Reusable, adjustable carriers for toting awkward handle-less items and related methods

ABSTRACT

Reusable, adjustable carriers and related methods are disclosed, the carriers comprising at least one band the length of which is adjustable for contiguous fastened relation around an awkward handle-less item of size and weight for balanced toting of the item from place-to-place.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to toting awkward handle-less items of size and weight from place-to-place and, more particularly, to novel reusable size-adjustable flat band carriers with a slidable, non-rotatable handle, each band being placed around the periphery of an item to be toted, size adjusted to be contiguous with the periphery. End connectors on the bands are releasibly connected together to secure the contiguous position and a non-rotatable handle is linearly relocated along the band with which it is associated to balance the load imposed by the item when lifted manually by the handle and toted from place-to-place.

BACKGROUND

Prior harnesses for carrying containers, boxes, packages and the like have been deficient in a number of respects, including but not necessarily limited to: constructed for a single use; not adaptable to any type, weight and sized container; difficult to store; inconvenient to transport when not attached to a container; unduly complex and/or costly; and comprising one or more handles which cannot be relocated for balancing the load and/or undesirably rotate during use.

BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

In brief summary, the present invention overcomes or substantially alleviates problems of the past in toting awkward handle-less items of size and/or weight, such as elongated tubes, boxes, packages and containers, using a temporarily attachable harness or carrier.

The invention involves novel methodology and wrap-on carriers in band form whereby at least one flat band having variable effective length is placed around the periphery of the item to be toted, the length of the band is sized by selectively sliding at least one of two connector members along the band, the connector members are securely but releasibly connected together so that the sized band fits snugly, securely and contiguously around the periphery of the item to be toted. A manual handle is linearly but non-rotatably along the band, to balance the weight of the item when lifted while preserving the contiguous relation between the band and the item, with the balanced item being lifted by manually grasping the handle and carrying the item and the carrier from one place to another.

It is a primary object of the present invention to overcome or substantially alleviate problems of the past in the field of toting awkward handle-less items of size and/or weight.

It is a further paramount object to provide novel methodology and carriers comprising one or more flat bands having some or all of the characteristics mentioned above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a carrier according to the present invention, for toting an awkward handle-less item from place-to-place, the carrier comprising a single band in the nature of a woven or braided fabric strap with a non-rotatable, slidable handle and male and female clasps which interconnect, with one clasp member being adjustable along the strap;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a second carrier embodiment according to the present invention comprising two bands in the nature of fabric straps cross-stitched together;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a second two strap carrier embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a carrier comprising three bands each band comprising a woven fabric strap, one of which is cross-stitched to the other two;

FIG. 5 is a perspective of the three strap carrier of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates in perspective one way in which the strap of FIG. 1 may be used to carry an awkward handle-less item of size and weight;

FIG. 7 illustrates in perspective one way in which the carrier of FIG. 2 may be utilized to tote an awkward handle-less item of weight and size;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating one way in which the carrier of FIG. 3 may be utilized to tote an awkward handle-less item of size and weight;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating one way in which the carrier of FIG. 4 may be utilized to tote an awkward handle-less item of size and weight;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded perspective view illustrating the manner in which the male clasp member is inserted into the female clasp member;

FIG. 11 is a perspective representation of the male and female clasp members of FIG. 10 shown in a releasable connected relationship;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective of the non-rotatable, slidable handle associated with one strap of each carrier;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 13-13 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a further carrier, according to the present invention, comprised of bands with hook and loop connectors; and

FIG. 15 is a perspective of the carrier of FIG. 14 securely and contiguously placed around an item to be toted from place-to-place.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention comprises carriers and related methodology, the carriers being in the nature of one or more flat bands for placement around the periphery of a handle-less awkward item of size and/or weight to be manually toted by use of the carrier. The methodology embraces placing at least one flat band having a variable length around the perimeter of an item to be toted, sizing the length of the band by selectively sliding at least one of two connector members along the band, securely but releasibly connecting the two connector members so that the sized band fits snugly, securely and essentially contiguously around the perimeter of the item to be toted, slidably adjusting a manual handle linearly but non-rotatably along the band to which the handle is joined to balance the weight while preserving the essentially contiguous relation between the band and the item and manually lifting the balance by grasping the handle and manually carrying the item from one place to another. When the item being toted has reached its destination, the band may be facilely disconnected, at the connector, from the item and the band immediately reused, stored or carried by itself to another location. The carriers, comprising one or more bands, may be easily stored because the band can be constricted so as to occupy a very small volume of space.

Thus, the present invention provides a unique combination comprising a handle-less awkward item of size and/or weight which must be toted from place-to-place and a reusable adjustable carrier for placement around the periphery of the item, with the carrier comprising at least one flat band having a length, two connector members associated with the flat band, at least one connector member being adjustable to size the associated band and a manual non-rotatable but slidable handle associated with the band such that the band is placed around the periphery of the item, an effective band length is obtained by adjusting the position of at least one connector member along the band and by connecting the two connector members so that the band is essentially snugly contiguous with the periphery of the item. The non-rotatable handle is linearly displaced along the band to a location where the load of the item will be balanced when manually lifted by the handle and toted from place-to-place. The carrier can be facilely removed from the item, reused, stored or carried to another location.

The carrier may consist of one or more bands. When a single band is utilized, the band may be wrapped around the periphery of the item to be toted in any suitable way to securely connect the item and the carrier. When two or three bands are utilized, there may or may not be perpendicularity between one band and another band. It is preferred that each band be formed of a woven or braided fabric belt-type material so that the band provides toughness, durability and an appropriate width, which can vary depending upon the use intended. Typically but not necessarily, the band is joined to a female connector member at one end of one band, with the other end of the band being connected to a male connector member, the two connector members being sized and shaped so as to securely connect together against inadvertent separation, but yet so as to be releasable one from the other by the user. The connector members may be male and female connectors or hook and loop (VELCRO) elements.

When two bands are used, so as to cross each other, the second band is either secured, as by cross-stitching for example, to the first band. When three bands are used, preferably the first band is sewn to the other two adjacent its respective ends, for example by cross-stitching, with two of the three bands having interlocking male and female connector members. When two bands are used, each band has at its ends male and female interlocking connector members, respectively.

FIG. 1 illustrates a single band carrier embodiment, generally designated 20. FIG. 2 illustrates a first two band carrier, generally designated 22.

FIG. 3 illustrates in plan view a second two band carrier, generally designated 24. FIG. 4 illustrates a three band carrier in accordance with the principles of the present invention, generally designated 26. It is to be appreciated that carriers comprising bands in excess of two are within the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 comprises a single elongated band 30 in the nature of a strap formed of woven belt-like material which is durable, strong and wear-resistant, accommodating repetitive use over an extended period of time.

As shown in FIG. 10, band 30 comprises one end 32 looped through an aperture 34 of a female clasp member, generally designated 36 of known and commercial design. Female clasp member 36 comprises a distal mouth 38 into which a male portion of a second clasp member is selectively inserted and removed, as explained subsequently in greater detail. Female clasp member 36 also comprises a pair of side apertures 40, only one of which is shown in FIG. 10, for accommodating contraction and removal of the male portion of the second male clasp member, as explained in greater detail subsequently.

The band or strap 30 is initially passed through slot or aperture 34 and folded back upon itself so as to provide upper and lower segments of the band or strap 30 which overlap and are integrally connected together as, for example, using cross-stitching 42. Thus, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the band 30 is not length adjustable at end 32, but such adjustment could be provided by those skilled in the art, if desired.

The band, strap or belt 30 comprises a second end 44, which is adjustably fitted through the male clasp member, generally designated 46, which is of known and commercially available design. The band end 44 is extended through a slot 48, across a bite bar 50, reversed upon itself and passed through a cross aperture 52 and along a bar 54, the underside of which has serrations so as to bind against the end 44, when positioned as illustrated in FIG. 10. The looped connection between the band end 44 and the male clasp member 46 accommodates, in a known way, selective displacement of the clasp member 46 along the length of the band 30 so as to adjust the effective length of the band 30 to fit individually various items to be toted.

The male clasp member 46 comprises a pair of centering projections 56 and yieldable male fingers 58 on opposite sides of the centering guides 56. The material from which the male clasp member 46 is made comprises memory. When the male clasp member 46 is inserted through mouth 38 of the female clasp member 36, the fingers 58 deflect inwardly as displaced through mouth 38 and, thereafter, extend outwardly due to memory to their respective unstressed positions so as to be exposed respectively at slots 40. This releasibly secures the clasp members 36 and 46 together against inadvertent separation. When it is desired to separate the two, manual pressure is applied in opposite directions to the portions of fingers 58 exposed at slots 40 and longitudinal force is applied in opposite directions to the clasp members 36 and 46 to separate them.

Returning to FIG. 1, the carrier 20 further comprises a non-rotatable slidable handle, generally designated 60, which is associated with the one belt 30 so as to accommodate linear selective slidable movement of the handle along the belt, when the belt is around the periphery of an item to be toted, to obtain a weight balanced position. One preferred handle, is illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13 to which reference is now made. Handle 60 comprises a bracket 62 at each end, each bracket 62 comprising a planar body of rigid synthetic resinous material 64 or metallic substance defining an upper handle-receiving aperture 66 and a lower rectangular slot or opening 68 through which the band 30 loosely passes. The lower rectangular slot or opening may be smooth or serrated. This allows the handle 60 to be slidably, but non-rotatably, linearly displaced to any desired location along the band 30. The handle 30 per se comprises an internal rigid tube 70 of substantially uniform inside and outside diameters, the inside diameter defining a hollow interior 72. The tube 70 is surrounded by a tube of woven fabric material 74, which extends beyond the ends of the interior tube 70, passes through the aperture 66 of each bracket 62 and reversed upon itself and is sewn to itself at stitch site 76 to form an eyelet. A somewhat curved exterior tube 78 is superimposed over both the fabric tube 74 and the interior tube 70 but has a lesser length. Tube 78 comprises top grooves or slots 80, which enhance the ability of the user in grasping the handle when toting an item.

While the carrier 20 (FIG. 1) can be used with items which are rectangular, square, odd-shaped or otherwise configurated, FIG. 6 illustrates carrier 20 being snugly wrapped around a tubular item to be toted and sized to fit the diameter of the tube 100. After the destination is reached, the carrier 20 is removed from the tube 78 and reused on another item, or stored or taken to another location.

Reference once more is made to FIG. 2, which illustrates the carrier 22 as being comprised of two bands 30, only one of which is associated with a handle 60. The two bands 30 are connected together at connection site 110. While any suitable type of connection could be used, site 110 is illustrated as comprising a connection in the nature of cross-stitching of the two bands 30 into an integrated whole.

FIG. 7 illustrates one of several ways in which the carrier 22 can be utilized to tote an item of size and weight, in this case rectangular box 112. To obtain the position of FIG. 7, each band 30 is placed around the periphery of the item 112 and is sized by adjusting the length of each band 30, at associated male clasp member 46 so as to be essentially contiguous with the exterior periphery of the box 112. After each band 30 is sized to snugly fit the size of the box 112, the pairs of male/female clasp members are respectively fastened together as previously described and handle 60 is linearly displaced, without rotation, along the band 30 with which it is associated to a central position such that the load imposed by the box 112 is balanced when lifted by the handle 60, following which the box 112 is moved from one place to another, as desired by the user. After the destination is reached, the carrier 22 is removed from the box 112 and reused on another item, or stored or taken to another location.

Reference once more is made to FIG. 3, which illustrates the two band carrier 24. The two band carrier 24 differs from the two band carrier 22 in that the handle 60 straddles the intersection of the two bands 30. The two bands 30 are connected together. The band 24 otherwise is utilized essentially as described above in respect to carrier 22. Utilization of the band 24 is illustrated in FIG. 8 shown as being sized and made contiguous with a rectangular package 114.

Reference once more is made to FIG. 4, which illustrates a three band carrier 26. Carrier 26 comprises two transverse bands 30, each comprising a female clasp member 36 and a male clasp member 46, described above. Neither transverse band 30 has a handle. A third longitudinally-directed band 30′ forms a part of carrier 26. Band 30′ does not have clasp members at the ends thereof, but rather is somewhat eccentrically integrally connected to the other two bands 30 at sites 110, shown to be cross-stitched connectors.

Carrier 26, of FIGS. 4 and 5, may be utilized as illustrated in FIG. 9 and with other items as well by following the previously described steps of sizing both bands 30 to cause the carrier to be essentially contiguous with the periphery of rectangular container 116, as shown in FIG. 9, the handle 60 being non-rotatably linearly displaced to a central position to accommodate load balanced toting of the container 116 from place-to-place.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 14 and 15, which illustrate a further embodiment of the present invention, generally designated 26′. Carrier 26′ is substantially identical to Carrier 26 described above in conjunction with FIGS. 5 and 9. The portions which are identical have been so enumerated and no further description thereof is necessary. The difference between the two embodiments are the end connectors on the cross straps 30. In lieu of the male and female clasps of FIGS. 5 and 9, the Carrier 26′ utilizes male and female VELCRO fasteners, also known as hook and loop fasteners. Each such fastener segment is designated as 120 in FIGS. 14 and 15 comprising hook fasteners 122 and loop fasteners 124, placed respectively at the ends of the cross straps 30. Accordingly, when placed contiguously on a handle-less item such as the rectangular package 126, shown in FIG. 15, the cross straps 30 can be sized so as to be contiguous with the item 126 and the hook and loop fasteners joined to create a secure although releasable connection, as illustrated in FIG. 15.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and are not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. 

1. A method of facilely, manually toting a handle-less awkward item of size and weight: comprising the acts of: placing at least one flat band having variable length around the periphery of the item to be toted; sizing the length of the band by selectively varying an inter-connection site of at least two inter-connectable connectors on the band; securely but releasibly connecting the at least two connectors so that the sized band fits snugly, securely and essentially contiguously around the periphery of the item to be toted; slidably adjusting a manual handle linearly but non-rotatable along the band to balance the weight while preserving the essentially contiguous relation between the band and the item; manually lifting the balanced item by grasping the handle and manually carrying the item and the band from one place to another.
 2. A method according to claim 1 comprising the further acts of: disconnecting the band from the item; repeating the acts of claim 1 in respect to a second handle-less awkward item of size and weight.
 3. A method according to claim 1 comprising the further acts of: disconnecting the band from the item; constricting the band to occupy a small amount of space; storing the constricted band.
 4. A method according to claim 3 comprising the further acts of: removing the constricted band from storage; repeating the acts of claim 1 in respect to a second handle-less awkward item of size and weight.
 5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the placing act comprises placing two flat bands differently around the periphery of the item, the sizing act comprises sizing the length of each of the two bands by selectively sliding at least one of two clasps associated with each band along the band.
 6. A method according to claim 5 comprising the further act of permanently connecting the two bands together at an intermediate location of each band.
 7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the bands are straps of fabric and the connecting act comprises stitching the bands together.
 8. A method according to claim 5 wherein one band passes between the other band and the manual handle.
 9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the placing act comprises placing three flat bands differently around the periphery of the item and the sizing act comprises sizing the length of two of the three bands.
 10. A method according to claim 9 comprising the further act of permanently connecting the one band to the other two bands.
 11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the bands are straps of fabric and the connecting act comprises stitching the one band to the other bands.
 12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sizing act comprises setting the effective length of the band by selectively joining hook and loop connectors carrying at the ends of the band.
 13. In combination: a handle-less awkward item of size and weight which requires to be manually toted from place-to-place, the item having a periphery; a reusable carrier for placement around the periphery of the item, the carrier comprising at least one flat band having a length, two inter-connectable connector members associated with the flat band for adjusting the effective length of the band and a manual non-rotatably but slidably handle associated with the band: whereby the band is placed around the periphery of the item, an effective band length obtained by adjusting the position of at least one connector member along the band and releasibly connecting the connector members together so that the band is essentially snugly contiguous with the periphery of the item, the non-rotatably handle being linearly displaced along the band to balance the load of the item when manually lifted at the handle and toted from place-to-place, thereafter allowing facile band removal, compact band storage as desired and band reuse on other items.
 14. The combination according to claim 13 wherein the at least one band is selected from the group comprising one, two and three bands.
 15. The combination according to claim 13 wherein the at least one band is selected from the group comprising two and three bands of woven fabric strap material, wherein the bands are stitched together.
 16. A reusable carrier for placement around a periphery of a handle-less awkward item of size and weight, the carrier comprising at least one flat band having a length, two connectable connector members associated with the flat band, connector members being adjustable connectable to size the effective length of the band and a manual non-rotatably but slidably handle associated with the band: whereby the band may be placed around the periphery of the item, an effective band length obtained by adjusting the connecting position of connector member and connecting the connector members so that the band is essentially snugly contiguous with the periphery of the item, the non-rotatably handle being linearly displaced along the band to balance the load of the item when manually lifted at the handle and toted from place-to-place, thereafter allowing facile band removal, compact band storage as desired and band reuse on other items. 